Vitale drove the car calmly, feeling the palpable tension in the air. The man next to him maintained a doubtful expression, but his determination was evident in the way he clenched his fists in his lap.
Vitale already knew where he planned to take him: a place where he could do his thing without interruption.
Finally, he turned into a narrow alley, the walls of which were covered in graffiti and eerie shadows. He put the vehicle in there with a firm movement, and as he stopped, he felt the atmosphere become even thicker.
The man next to him looked at Vitale, raising an eyebrow with distrust evident in his dark eyes.
—Is Mason here? You're sure? he asked, his voice shaking slightly as he scanned the alley.
Vitale kept his gaze straight ahead, hiding an internal smile. I knew he was about to play his cards.
The alley was shrouded in dense gray smoke that drifted between puddles of dirty water and overflowing trash cans. Vitale got out of the car without saying a word, his figure silhouetted against the haze as he walked steadily and slowly forward.
Behind him, the man began to get frustrated as he didn't see Mason Heart anywhere. Uncertainty tormented him.
-Hey! Where are you going? Are you going to call Mason? —he asked, his voice echoing in the echo of the alley.
With a determined gesture, the man got out of the car and closed the door with a sharp slam. He took a few steps towards Vitale, who still turned his back to him, as if unaware of his presence.
—Are you playing a joke on me? —he continued, his tone thick with annoyance—. You better call Mason now.
The tension was palpable; smoke seemed to thicken the air between them, shrouding the scene in a blanket of uncertainty. Vitale calmly reached into his jacket, as if everything was under control, and slowly pulled out the gun. Turning, he aimed at the man with a cold, determined gaze that radiated authority.
The man froze, his eyes widening in disbelief, unable to process what was happening. His heart was pounding as he took a step back.
—Hey...hey, what do you think you're doing? And Mason? Where is? —he stammered, his voice shaking with worry and fear.
"I'm sorry," Vitale replied, holding the gun steady. But I'm afraid you won't see Mason Heart today.
A heavy silence filled the alley, interrupted only by the dripping of water collecting in the puddles. The reality of the situation settled like a stone in the man's stomach as he looked at Vitale, searching for some way to get out of it.
—I see, this was a trap. "I should have known this would happen," the man said, resentment welling up in his voice. Mason sent you to murder me, right?
Vitale kept his gaze fixed, unperturbed.
"I don't think there's any need to answer that question," he replied coldly.
The man felt a chill run down his spine as he desperately searched for a way to stop Vitale from pulling the trigger.
—Are you seriously going to shoot me? Are you a coward? he challenged, trying to provoke Vitale. Do you need a weapon to finish me? Don't you dare to solve this like men? Melee!
With each word, his voice was filled with rage and defiance, as if he could defy fate itself. He took a step closer, determined to destabilize Vitale, his body tense and ready for any movement.
Vitale did not move, but his eyes exuded an eerie calm. The alley seemed to close around them, each sound amplified by the tension in the air.
—But what are you saying? Vitale said, letting out a confident smile. Do you want to extend your life by a few seconds?
"No... But this shouldn't be resolved like this," the man replied, trying to keep his voice steady. Do you think the same as me? I bet without your gun you're nothing.
Vitale felt the man's challenge resonate within him. The smile slowly faded, and his pride, like a wall, prevented him from pulling the trigger. With a determined movement, he lowered the weapon, feeling the weight of the decision.
The man breathed a sigh of relief, but he wasn't entirely sure if that was good or bad. The tension still hung between them like a thick cloud.
Vitale tossed the weapon away from them with an almost carefree gesture, as if throwing away an unnecessary weight. Then she looked at him seriously, her deep eyes reflecting a mixture of challenge and respect.
"It's just you and me now," Vitale said in a low, almost threatening voice. What are we going to do?
The man, feeling that he had regained some control, stood up straight and stared at him, preparing for a different confrontation.
—My pride doesn't allow me to shoot you. I will show you that I can defeat you without a weapon. "You poor devil," Vitale said, his voice thick with disdain. Don't think you've been saved. I have orders to kill you. You've only made your death worse.
The man laughed, sneering disdainfully.
-That? Are you going to beat me? "Please," he replied, his tone full of sarcasm. If guys like you are nothing without their weapons, you're stupid for dropping yours. Now you've just dug your own grave.
The atmosphere became even more tense, as if the air was becoming electrified.
"I see that you are very calm, you think you are invincible," the man continued, his voice ringing with arrogance. But if you are nothing more than a servant, you are here at someone else's command. You're just another name on Mason's list.
Vitale gritted his teeth, feeling rage beginning to bubble up inside him.
"Shut up," he interrupted, his eyes burning with determination. Let's better clarify this as soon as possible. You said it would be hand to hand. What are you waiting for? Stop talking so much and fight once and for all... Or are you afraid?
The man felt a shiver run down his spine at the intensity in Vitale's gaze, but he quickly drowned it out with a nervous laugh, trying to regain his defiant stance.
—Do you think your words are intimidating? —said the man, with an arrogant smile—. You don't cause me anything.
Vitale stared at him, his eyes burning with determination.
"I'm waiting," he exclaimed, his voice ringing with a mix of defiance and confidence. Don't think you can escape from here. So come and fight.
The man, noticing the firmness in Vitale's stance, felt anger begin to bubble up inside him. He stood on guard, his body tense like a spring, as if he were weighing his options before attacking.
The atmosphere was charged; the air seemed to vibrate between them, every word and movement amplifying the tension. The distant echoes of the city faded, and only the expectant silence of two men ready to confront each other remained.
The man, finally determined, launched a kick at Vitale's head. However, Vitale stopped the attack with ease, grabbing his leg with a firm hand, leaving him with only one foot to support.
"Is that all you can do?" Vitale asked, his voice thick with disdain.
In one swift movement, Vitale aimed a kick at the man's only foot on the ground, knocking him down instantly. The blow rang through the air like an echo of defiance. The man fell to the ground, but soon got up quickly, driven by a mixture of rage and uncontrolled impulse.
Anger clouded his mind; every rational thought faded under the weight of anger. Without thinking too much about the consequences, he lunged at Vitale again, his body tense and determined to attack with blind fury.
The man swung with his right hand, but Vitale stopped it with a firm hand, as if he were catching a snake. Wasting no time, the man counterattacked with a left jab, only to meet resistance from Vitale again. They were both in a tense moment, their faces a short distance apart, while Vitale held the man's fists tightly, feeling the effort of both in every small sound that escaped their lips.
With one determined move, Vitale stretched the man towards him and headbutted him squarely in the forehead. The impact resounded like thunder in the air, throwing the man off his feet and leaving him staggering, dazed by surprise.
Taking advantage of that fraction of a second, Vitale delivered an accurate blow to the man's face; the crunch of contact reverberated in his ears. Without giving him time to regain his balance, he followed up with a knee to the stomach. The sound of pain the man made was almost guttural, an echo of his frustration and rage.
With determination, Vitale grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt and dragged him toward the wall with brutal force. The impact resounded like a dull thunder; The man crashed into the cold, hard surface, eyes wide with shock and pain.
Vitale kept the man against the wall. Just then, he launched a powerful elbow, but the man reacted with feline quickness, dodging underneath and avoiding the blow. Vitale's elbow hit the wall with a dull crash, echoing through the air like a drum.
Seizing the opportunity, the man quickly turned and stood behind Vitale, like a shadow lurking in the darkness. Vitale turned around instantly, but it was too late; the man delivered a direct blow to his left cheek. The force of the impact surprised him and now the man was surrounding him, attacking with a flurry of blows that fell on Vitale like a relentless storm.
However, Vitale was not willing to give up so easily. With trained reflexes, he managed to parry one of the man's blows and forcefully pushed him back, creating the necessary distance between them. They were both breathing heavily, their chests rising and falling frantically as they evaluated their next moves.
Ready for the next round, their eyes met; there was a fire in their eyes, each aware that the battle was just beginning.
Despite the chaos around him, Vitale showed no signs of despair. An aura of tranquility surrounded him, as if he were in tune with every movement of the combat. His mind was clear, focused on the challenge before him.
The man, determined to resume the offensive, ran towards Vitale with unbridled determination. In a bold attempt, she leaped, seeking to fall on him with a devastating blow. However, Vitale moved with feline agility, dodging the attack at the last second.
The man fell next to Vitale, but did not give up. With unleashed fury, he launched a series of right and left blows, each seeking to connect with his target. But Vitale seemed to dance between the blows, dodging with almost supernatural precision.
Then, taking advantage of an opening, Vitale counterattacked with an accurate kick to the man's stomach. The impact resonated and the man doubled forward, placing his hands on his abdomen as he felt the searing pain.
Without wasting a second, Vitale lunged at him and grabbed his neck firmly, applying a kind of lock that forced him to look at the ground. Desperation began to take over the man; his attempts to free himself only increased his frustration.
The man, in a desperate attempt to escape, threw forceful elbows towards Vitale's stomach. The searing pain forced Vitale to release his grip, allowing the man to break free momentarily. But Vitale didn't give him time to breathe.
With renewed determination, he lunged at him and executed a powerful kick that landed hard on the man's chest. The moment seemed to be in slow motion: Vitale's leg moved with deadly precision, and the sound of the blow echoed like thunder. Fine dust rose from the man's shirt as he flew backwards, as if gravity had forgotten its function for an instant.
The man fell heavily into a puddle of water, the liquid splashing around as he clutched his sore chest. With difficulty, he looked up and saw Vitale slowly approaching, his figure casting a menacing shadow over him. Rage burned in the man's eyes as he noticed blood gushing from his mouth.
Lying on the ground, surrounded by the echo of his own thoughts and the murmur of water splashing around him, he looked around quickly for options. He realized with disquiet that Vitale was stronger than he had ever imagined. Adrenaline coursed through his veins; He knew he had to act quickly if he wanted to survive.
Just then, the man noticed a rusty metal bar next to him, half buried in the mud. Without hesitation, he grabbed it with both hands and quickly stood up from the ground, his heart pounding.
Vitale raised an eyebrow at the flash of desperation in the man's eyes.
"I thought you'd want to fight hand-to-hand," Vitale said with a mocking smile. But I see that desperation is consuming you.
With a primal scream, the man lunged at Vitale, gripping the bar as if it were his only salvation. Vitale dodged the first attack with agility, but the second blow hit him square in the face. The impact resounded like thunder; Vitale fell to the ground, stunned for an instant.
He quickly regained consciousness and spat blood onto the ground before standing up, his eyes flashing with fury.
"That's right, get up," the man said with renewed confidence. Right now you will pay for your disbelief. I told you you were stupid to throw away your gun.
Vitale stood up fully, shaking off the dust and blood.
"Having that metal bar in your hands doesn't make you a winner," Vitale replied seriously. You can have it, but if you don't use agile or precise movements, it won't do you any good.
The air between them was thick with tension as they both prepared to continue the fight, each sizing up the other for a weakness they could exploit.
The man returned to action, firmly gripping the bar with both hands, his muscles tensing as he launched a brutal attack towards Vitale.
Vitale, with quick reflexes, stopped the bar with both hands, feeling the force of the blow reverberate through his body. He struggled to contain it while the man struggled to make it collide with him.
Cunningly, the man kicked Vitale's leg, who lost his balance and dropped the bar at a critical moment. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the man raised his improvised weapon and with all his strength hit the bar against Vitale's face.
The blow was lethal; A crack echoed through the air as Vitale let out a gasp of pain. Blood gushed from his mouth upon impact, sending him flying back a few centimeters before falling heavily into a puddle of dirty water next to a garbage can.
Water splashed around him as if the ground itself were celebrating his fall. Vitale lay there for a moment, dazed and struggling to catch his breath, feeling the rage and determination begin to burn within him.
Vitale, with a determined look, noticed a sharp piece of broken glass lying near him, gleaming ominously in the dim light. With shaking but firm hands, he grabbed it and held it in his fist, squeezing hard to not let the man notice his new weapon.
With a monumental effort, he stood up again, wiping the blood from his mouth with his wrist, feeling the burn of pain but determined not to let himself be overcome.
He expected the man to attack him once more, eager to anticipate his next move.
—Come on, why don't you attack me? Vitale provoked, his voice thick with defiance.
—Do you want more? Even though I broke your mouth," the man responded with a confident smile, feeling superior.
The man gripped the bar tightly, ready to launch another attack on Vitale, this time more confident than before. He approached quickly, lifting the bar above his head before bringing it down with full force.
Vitale's eyes widened with determination; It was time to act. With agility, he raised his arm just in time for the bar to hit his forearm instead of his head. The pain was intense, but he withstood the impact and felt the adrenaline begin to flow through his veins.
Without wasting a second, he lunged forward, letting the edge of the glass peek out slightly between his fingers. In one quick, precise movement, he drove the glass into the man's neck.
Time seemed to stop as the man's confident expression transformed into horror and surprise. Blood gushed out like an unexpected torrent, soaking Vitale's hands at the brutality of the act.
The man fell to his knees, his eyes reflecting disbelief as his body slumped forward, plunging into a puddle of water that was quickly turning red from the blood pouring from his neck. Vitale watched him without blinking, feeling a strange mixture of adrenaline and coldness at the scene. The man was desperately trying to stop the bleeding, his red-stained hands slapping against his skin.
There was not a hint of pity in Vitale's heart. Only echoes of the struggle and the need to survive resonated in his mind. Determinedly, he bent down and grabbed the metal bar that had belonged to the man. The cold of the metal ran through his hand, an almost calming sensation in the midst of the chaos.
He prepared to finish what he had started. He looked at the man, now vulnerable and dying in the red puddle, and felt his rage turn to resolve. This was the decisive moment.